critic
/ˈkrɪtɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkrɪtɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkri-tik/ (ame, mw)
critic — noun
- criticsingular
- criticsplural
1. someone who expresses strong disapproval of a person, idea, or course of action,
someone who expresses strong disapproval of a person, idea, or course of action, often publicly.
Élise's mother became the loudest critic of her plan to move abroad.
collocation: critic + of + noun phrase
Critics of the new law say it does not protect the environment at all.
passive construction with 'critics of'
Jack was his own harshest critic and could never accept praise.
The mayor faced fierce critics after cutting funding for public libraries.
- detractor
more formal, emphasizes active opposition rather than just disapproval
- opponent
broader — a person on the other side of an argument, not necessarily voicing negative judgment
- fault-finder
informal, focuses on noticing small flaws rather than expressing strong disapproval
文法句型
critic + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Subject of the disapproval can be a person, a plan, a policy, or an institution. The phrase 'one's own harshest critic' is a fixed expression describing someone who judges themselves very severely.
常見錯誤
2. a person paid to form and publish opinions about creative works such as films, b
a person paid to form and publish opinions about creative works such as films, books, music, and plays, typically for a newspaper, magazine, or website.
The film critic gave the new drama four stars in Saturday's paper.
typical context: 'film critic + gives rating'
Kwame works as the main restaurant critic for a popular city blog.
pattern: critic + for + publication/outlet
Adina had always dreamed of becoming a music critic at a national magazine.
Owen disagreed with the book critic's opinion and wrote a letter to the editor.
- reviewer
nearly interchangeable but slightly less formal; emphasizes the act of reviewing rather than the professional identity
- commentator
broader — analyzes news, politics, or culture, not specifically creative works
文法句型
critic + for + publication type
用法筆記
Commonly preceded by the type of work reviewed: film critic, music critic, book critic, restaurant critic, theater critic. The person's views are published — this sense implies a public platform, not private opinion.
常見錯誤
3. a person who makes careful, thoughtful judgments about a subject, pointing out b
a person who makes careful, thoughtful judgments about a subject, pointing out both its good and bad sides based on analysis.
The historian is a leading critic of the traditional view of the war.
academic context: 'critic of the traditional view'
Environmental critics argue that the plan does not reduce pollution enough.
pattern: '[domain] critics argue that…'
Rafael is known as a sharp critic of modern architectural design.
Anjali wrote a critique of the city housing policy, praising its goals while exposing funding flaws.
文法句型
critic + of + abstract noun phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense implies thoughtful, reasoned evaluation (not merely disapproval). The critic may point out strengths too. Common in academic, policy, and professional discourse. Subject is typically an abstract idea, theory, method, or policy.
常見錯誤
4. a person who closely studies and judges the quality, meaning, or technique behin
a person who closely studies and judges the quality, meaning, or technique behind paintings, music, dance, and theatrical performances.
The literary critic examined how the author used light and darkness as symbols throughout the novel.
focus on analytical technique and symbolism
Tara studied lighting design and movement to become a theater critic with technical knowledge.
A good dance critic describes the flow of the performance, not just whether it was enjoyable.
Feng trained as a painter before becoming an art critic for a gallery magazine.
- connoisseur
emphasizes expert knowledge and refined taste rather than public evaluation
- interpreter
focuses on explaining meaning rather than judging quality
- appraiser
more formal, often used in professional valuation contexts
文法句型
critic + of + art form
用法筆記
Overlaps with sense 2 but emphasizes the depth of analysis rather than the act of publishing an opinion. A film critic (sense 2) may give a star rating; an art critic (sense 4) analyzes technique, symbolism, and cultural meaning. Often used with specific art forms: literary critic, art critic, dance critic, theater critic.